The Voice Spring 2014

Spring 2014
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
VOICE
Follow us! | www.facebook.com/ThePrideCenter | @PrideCenterFL
Girl on Fire
By SJ Strock
Mural Unveiling
PG. 11
Women’s History Month
Art Reception
PG. 12
R
oya Amirniroumand is
a young and passionate
woman who now spends
most of her days immersed in
her field of interest – Women
and Gender Studies – as The
Pride Center’s new Women
with Pride Coordinator.
Chatting with Roya is akin to
sitting down with an old friend
who just can’t wait to tell you
everything about what ignites her
fire. One question can lead to an
entire conversation that weaves
and wraps around community,
Meet our new Women with Pride Coordinator
politics, family, upbringing,
friends, goals, and of course her
dog, Oscar. Roya’s warm and
forthcoming personality is most
likely the reason her office door
is always open.
In the few short weeks since
Roya began laying roots at The
Center, she says “I get so excited
to meet new people and it’s just
great that so many visitors have
stopped by my office to welcome
me into the community.”
She also says that she loves
the connection through The
+continued on page 4
Out and About
Roya Amirniroumand
Expanded HIV outreach and testing
team serve as agents of change
By Shanna Ratliff
H
AIDS Walk
PG.13
Evening in Paradise:
Carnaval!
PG. 14
ave you seen the
handsome men in blue
Pride Center t-shirts
around town? Maybe you met
them at Pride Fort Lauderdale
or the Gay Rodeo. Perhaps
they provided you an HIV test
off Wilton Drive, handed you a
condom at a local bar or spoke
with you about HIV prevention
at the beach.
Funding from the Florida
Department of Health has helped
The Pride Center expand its HIV
testing and outreach services
in creative ways to diverse
communities. Listron “Blue”
Mannix, Testing Manager, and
Shanna Ratliff, Prevention
Outreach Coordinator, have built
an experienced, skilled team
with unique backgrounds and
innovative ideas. In only a few
months, Julian Alterman, Kenedy
Alves, and Edguardo Medina
have expanded The Center’s
outreach across Broward.
The team is hard at work.
They recently partnered with
the Broward County Sherriff’s
Office to conduct outreach at
the Sunshine Stampede Rodeo
and at Century Village +continued on page 4
Kenedy Alves, Julian Alterman and Edgardo Medina
1
Times Are A Changing
A letter from Robert Boo, C.E.O. of The Pride Center at Equality Park
VOICE Spring 2014
I
recently had the honor to attend two same-sex
wedding celebrations. One was Jewish, steeped in
tradition here in Fort Lauderdale; the other was a
destination celebration in Las Vegas. Both were very
sweet, filled with love, family, friends, celebrations and
milestones to witness. Having grown up in rural, smalltown Indiana, this day seemed unimaginable. Thankfully,
times are changing. Seventeen states, plus the District of
Columbia, recognize marriage equality. We are the civil
rights movement of this generation, and we need to keep
the ball rolling.
When I first joined The Pride Center in 2006, we had
seven paid staff and an operating budget of $430,000.
Today, we have 36 paid staff and an operating budget
over $2.4M. Over the years The Center has continued
to evolve and grow during the worst economic times
since the Great Depression. (Contrary to popular
belief, I was not around to remember the Depression.)
I can’t take credit for all of this growth. The Center
continues to employ talented and dedicated people.
We work here because of our passion for our mission.
The Center also enjoys the benefit of over 200
volunteers who donate their time and talents. Many
volunteers have worked for years, answering phones,
providing HIV tests, designing flyers and signing
in guests at events, never missing a beat. I am so
grateful for their dedication.
Our cover story this issue introduces you to our new
Women with Pride Coordinator, Roya Amirniroumand.
She has hit the floor running with Women’s History
Month, organizing several events such as an Art Opening,
a panel discussion on the effects of marijuana, a film
screening and a book signing. We are very pleased to
welcome her to our family.
Our second cover story introduces some new HIV
prevention staff from a new Department of Health grant.
The team of Julian Alterman, Kenedy Alves, Oscar
About The Pride Center
T
2
he Pride Center celebrated 20 years of service in
2013. Our mission is: “We provide a welcoming,
safe space--an inclusive home--that celebrates,
nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ communities and
our friends and neighbors in South Florida.” The Center’s
program and services meet the distinct cultural, health,
educational, economic, social and safety needs of the
LGBT community. More than 20,000 adult and youth
attended activities at the Center over the past year. We
host more than 60 regularly-meeting groups each month.
Support, social and educational groups focus on women,
seniors, youth, men, transgender, recovery, health, the arts,
athletics, spirituality, games and more. Outreach activities
The Pride Center
2040 N. Dixie Highway
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305
Mail Correspondence to:
P.O. Box 70518
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307-0518
(954) 463-9005
Fax (954) 764-6522
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Board of Directors
Ilene Berliner, Chair
James Walker, Vice Chair
Chris Caputo, Secretary
Craig Engel, CPA,
Treasurer
Ted Adcock
Mitchell Bloom
Mark Budwig
Brenda Hartley
George Kling
Dr. Leslie Leip
Juliette Love
Leslie Rutland-Tipton
Richard Safaty
Pride Center Staff
Caballero, Edgardo Medina and Richard Thomas help
extend our reach into the community for HIV education
and prevention.
As you peruse this issue of The Voice you will enjoy pictures
from many Center activities and events. We are pleased that
our Center appears alongside Harvey Milk in the Wells Fargo
mural in their 5-Points location. We hosted Black Gay Pride,
held the second annual Equality Park Tropical Plant Fair, held
the third annual Pride Center Cruise, participated in the Florida
AIDS Walk, hosted several Founders Receptions and put on
the third and largest Evening In Paradise.
Lastly, The Pride Center has been selected to be a
recipient of this year’s SMART Ride on November 14
& 15. For the second time, I plan to ride the 165 miles
from Miami to Key West. I hope that you will support
any of the riders and crew on the Pride Pack team so that
we can continue to provide vital and innovative HIV
programming to the community.
over the past year directly impacted over 30,000 residents
and visitors to South Florida. The Pride Center is a major
site for HIV testing, prevention, education, support, holistic
health and counseling. Stop in and learn about all we do: a
community Flea Market; women’s health initiatives; family
outreach days; Bingo; unique exercise classes; financial
investment series; art gallery openings; adult educational
opportunities through Pride University; Bingo; education
for prospective and current parents; weekly “Coffee and
Conversation” gatherings for seniors; music, movies and
live theater presentations; a variety of health fairs; and a
spectrum of creative symposiums, speakers, forums and
events for the entire community. We own five-and-a-half
acres of property with 30,000 square feet of office space
that provide homes for programs and services, as well
as synergy among organizations. Our Vision is to be the
premier point of connection for our community.
Robert Boo, Executive Director,
[email protected]
Kristofer Fegenbush, MSW, Deputy Director,
[email protected]
Janet Weissman, Business Manager,
[email protected]
Jorge Gardela, Health Outreach Director,
[email protected]
Frank Gurucharri, PALS Project Manager,
[email protected]
Roger Roa, Director of Development,
[email protected]
Samantha McCoy, Customer Service Coordinator,
[email protected]
Listron “Blue” Mannix, MSW, Minority Testing Initiative Manager,
[email protected]
Jeff Grigsby, LIFE Coordinator,
[email protected]
Magno Morales, CHOICES Coordinator,
[email protected]
Emilio Aponte, CRCS Coordinator,
[email protected]
Albert Taylor, Health Coordinator,
[email protected]
Ed Garcia, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator,
[email protected]
S.F. Makalani-Mahee, Data Entry Specialist,
[email protected]
Shanna Ratliff, Prevention Outreach Coordinator,
[email protected]
Bruce Williams, Senior Services Coordinator,
[email protected]
Lorenzo Robertson, CouplesSpeak Coordinator,
[email protected]
Rafael Reyes, Healthcare Navigator,
[email protected]
Ebony Wilson, ETI Outreach Coordinator,
[email protected]
Roya Amirniroumand, Women with Pride Coordinator,
[email protected]
Oscar Caballero, Linkage and Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Rick Thomas, VOICES and Outreach Specialist,
[email protected]
Daniel Dardenne, Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Norris Wildhagen, Facilities Specialist,
[email protected]
Charles Dickey, Health Counselor,
[email protected]
Chris Douglas, Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
William “Billy” Gall, Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Stacey Wall, Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Bryon Bowlby, Executive Assistant,
[email protected]
Todd Hammond, Information Analyst,
[email protected]
Julian Alterman, Outreach and Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Kenedy Alves, Outreach and Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Edgardo Medina, Outreach and Testing Specialist,
[email protected]
Dr. David Fawcett, Lead CouplesSpeak Clinical/Program Consultant,
[email protected]
Dr. John N John, Couples Speak Program Evaluation Consultant,
[email protected]
Clarence Collins, Facilities Assistant, [email protected]
Robert Bryant , Facilities Assistant, [email protected]
Troy Brown, Facilities Assistant, [email protected]
The Pride Center Voice
Production Managers: Chris Caputo, Kristofer Fegenbush
Creative Director: Mark Pauciullo
Contributing Writers: SJ Strock, Cheryl Bennett, Robert Saunders, Bryon
Bowlby, Listron “Blue” Mannix, Shanna Ratliff, Rafael Reyes, Bruce Williams,
Robert Boo and Kristofer Fegenbush.
Photographers: Steven Shires, Pompano Bill, Dennis Dean, Stephen Lang,
Liquid Radar, Denise Spivak, Ed Garcia, S.F. Makalani-Mahee, Listron “Blue”
Mannix, Samantha McCoy, Bryon Bowlby and Kristofer Fegenbush.
The VOICE newsletter is published in the memory and
through the donation of the Robert S. Kecskemety Trust.
Photos by Steve Shires
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Pride Center Cruise
Friends and supporters of
The Center set sail on the
Caribbean seas. Richard
Safaty of Freedom Travel
organized the successful
cruise that raised $7,500
for The Pride Center.
Book your cabin now
for the 2015 Cruise at a
discounted rate!
VOICE Spring 2014
What’s the deal with
Front Wall Facelift
As part of our Courtyard
Improvement Project,
the front wall along
Dixie Highway recently
received a colorful,
welcoming facelift.
Stop by and see all
the improvements at
Equality Park!
Photos by Ed Garcia
PrEP?
Wednesday, April 30 - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
3
Girl on Fire
+continued from page 1
Pride Center’s FaceBook page, where there are countless
opportunities to bond, share ideas and lay platforms for making
a difference through LGBTQIA education and outreach.
Hailing from the northeast--New Jersey to be exact-Roya has followed her parents and siblings to the sunny
shores of South Florida. She is completing her Masters
from Rutgers University and brings her overwhelming
passion for equality to The Pride Center.
“Having an older brother and a younger sister,” Roya
quips, “I have a clear case of ‘Middle Child Syndrome’,
always in competition to have a voice. Maybe that’s what
motivates me to be the voice of others, finding resources,
support and a united political push for change.”
Although she is young in years, she is wise beyond
her age. Roya admits boldly, “I absolutely recognize the
Out and About
VOICE Spring 2014
+continued from page 1
4
Pembroke Pines. The team provides HIV education
and outreach on Wilton Drive in the evenings. They’ve
targeted Brazilian neighborhoods in Pompano Beach and
students at local colleges. They’ve distributed thousands
of safer sex packets and tens of thousands of condoms.
Julian, Kenedy and Edguardo are no strangers to
the programs offered at The Pride Center. Julian, a
retired dentist who moved to South Florida in 2010,
participated in The Center’s LIFE program that teaches
holistic health to persons living with HIV.
“After my LIFE cycle, I was asked to serve as a peer
educator and facilitator,” Alterman explains. He then
completed HIV counseling and testing certification.
Alterman is visibly passionate about his work and
regularly receives positive feedback from participants
in the LIFE program and people for whom he provides
testing. Alterman is working hard to increase outreach
and testing at local bathhouses and sex clubs.
Kenedy moved to the United States from Brazil
ten years ago and volunteered with The Center for
two years before being selected as part of this new
outreach and testing team. Alves explains that he was
drawn to the position because of a desire to expand
the community’s knowledge of available resources,
programs and services. While conducting outreach on
Wilton Drive, Alves was surprised to learn that many
people he met did not know about The Pride Center’s
array of services in their community, only blocks from
Wilton Drive. Alves is working to expand outreach and
testing initiatives in neighborhoods across Broward,
including the Brazilian community located in Pompano.
Edguardo also is taking HIV education and prevention
to new locations. He recently conducted outreach during
Broward College’s gay pride event. Medina was born
and raised in Puerto Rico and has been involved with
LGBT youth since 2008. Medina enjoys being able to
empower people to make healthier choices. In capturing
the overall sentiment of the team, he states, “I am proud
to be an agent of positive change in the community.”
desire in myself to be that person to build a community
of support.”
Her studies have brought her to The Pride Center,
and to doing something so close to her field of interest.
Committed to her belief that it’s fundamentally
important for community members to share and create
knowledge about the complex and diverse experiences of
LGBTQIA persons to make transformative connections
and change, she is sure to enhance the programming of
Women with Pride.
With a specific interest in the “lived, shared and
varied experiences of LBT women,” Roya says, “A lot
of people in my life have asked me about my personal
sexuality – and the truth is at the end of the day, I am a
WOMAN, and the LBT community is at the heart of the
current Women’s Movement.”
As the Center’s Women with Pride Coordinator, Roya
will provide outreach, education and linkage services as
well as organize events, activities, social media presence
and groups for LBT Women. She will manage and
coordinate the Vital Signs series funded through Aqua
Foundation, update and expand the LBT Health Directory
and help coordinate the Expanding Our Families series
for prospective and current LGBT parents.
“It’s amazing what she’s already organized,” says COO
Kristofer Fegenbush. “A film screening and discussion;
a Meet and Greet with an MMA Champion fighter
to promote our LBT Health Directory; a community
dialogue on marijuana use; an art opening; a book signing
and more. She’s impacting our community quickly.”
You can be sure, there is no containing the enthusiasm
of this young woman. She has high hopes, great visions
and the wherewithal to expand women’s programming
at The Pride Center. If you haven’t already popped your
head into Roya’s office, be sure to do so! Watch out,
this girl is on fire...
Groups at the Pride Center
WEEKLY RECURRING MEETINGS AA – Attitude Adjustment Group, Recovery, Mon-Fri, 7-8a
AA – Attitude Adjustment Group, Recovery, Mon-Fri, 7-8a
AA – Each Day a New Beginning, Recovery, Daily, 9-10a
AA – Northeast Group, Recovery, Mon, 8:30-9:30p
AA – Sober, Proud and Gay, Recovery, Fri, 8:30-10p
AA – Pride 5:45 Meeting, Recovery, Daily, 5:45-6:45p
BrothasspeakFTL-Social, Wed, 7:00p-9:00p
Coffee and Conversation – SAC, Social/Seniors, Tues,
10:30a-12noon
Crystal Meth Anonymous, Recovery Mon 6p-7p, Wed, 6p-7p
Faith Circle, Social, Sun, 11:30a-1:30p
Games Day, Social, 2nd & 4th Tues, 1-4p
Gay Bridge Club, Fun, Mon & Fri, 1-4p
Gay Hearts, Social, Sun, 1-3:30p
Gay Men’s Empowerment Group,Thurs 7p-8:30p
Imagine Meditation in your life with Drew, Thurs, 7:30p-8:30p
Island City Al-anon-Support, Thur, 7-8p
Mahjong, Social, Wed, 1-5:00p
Man2Man Talk, Social, Mon, 7-8:30p
Monday Night Women’s Group, Social, Mon, 7:30-9p
Narcotics Anonymous Rainbow Group, Recovery, Wed, 8-9p
New Path Narcotics Anonymous Group, Recovery, Mon/Tue/
Thu, 7-8p
New Path Narcotics Anonymous Group, Recovery, Sat/Sun, 4-5p
Overeaters Anonymous, Recovery, Sun, 12n-1:30p
Overeaters Anonymous, Recovery, Fri, 7:30-9p
POZ Attitudes Here and Now, HIV Support, Wed, 7-9p,
Quit Smoking Now, Tues 7p-8:30p
SAGE Men’s Social, Social/Seniors, Wed, 1-3p
SAGE Computer Club, Wed 4p-5p
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), Recovery, Fri, 7-8p
Senior Exercise Class YMCA Health, Senior, Mon-Fri,
10:10a-11:10a,11:15-12:15p,1:30-2:30p
Senior Gay Men’s Support Group, Support, Mon, 11a-12n
Smart Recovery, Recovery, Mon, 7:30-8:30p/Thur, 6:30-8p
The Healing Project Meeting,Tues 7:30p-9pm
Toastmasters, Educational, Mon, 7:15-9:15p
Women’s Non-Competitive Basketball, Social,Mon,Thur 5:30p,
Sat 3p
Pride Center Young Adult Group, (23-35 yoa), Support, Fri, 7-9p
Yoga with Drew Miller, Social, Wed, 6p-7p, Sat, 12:30p-1:30p
BI-WEEKLY RECURRING MEETINGS
Ballet & Opera Group, Educational, 2nd & 4th Sunday, 1-4p
Bereavement Group, Support, 2nd & 4th Sunday, 2-4p
POZ Long-Term Survivor, Gay Men/HIV Support, 1st & 3rd
Thur, 6:30-8p
Senior Games Day, Social, 2nd & 4th Tue, 1-4p
MONTHLY RECURRING MEETINGS/EVENTS
Big Men’s Club: Chubbies & Chasers, Social, 3rd Sat, 1-4p
Pride Center BINGO, Open to Public, 2nd Sat, 7-10p
Dolphin Democrats, Mthly Meeting, 2nd Wed, 7:30-9:30p
Lavender Speaks, Social, 3rd Thurs, 7:30-10p
Pride Center Memorial Garden Club, Educational, 3rd Wed,
7-9p
Pride Center Flea Market, Open to Public, 1st Sat, 8a-2p
Primetimers, Open to Public, 1st Sun, 2-4:30p
SAGE Computer Club, Educational, 2nd Wed, 4-6p
SAGE Movie
Movie, Social, 3rd Mon, 4-6p
S. F. Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, Support, 1st Sun, 2:303:30p
Transgender Support Group, Support, 3rd Fri, 7-8:30p
Women in Network, Social, 1st Wed, 7-9p
Women with Pride Book Club, 2nd Thur, 7-9p
For further information or to rent a room
for your event call: Samantha McCoy at
954-463-9005.
Visit www.pridecenterflorida.org Calendar
of Events for meeting room assignments.
Room days/times subject to change.
By Bryon Bowlby
B
rick naming opportunities on
the grounds of The Pride Center
continue to gain momentum
as members of the community honor
their marriages and remember friends,
lovers, partners, or parents they have
lost. Others simply make a statement
about something they believe in:
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
In Loving Mememory of our
Parents…
La Dolce Vita
Our Good Friend…
Who Am I to Judge? – Pope
Francis
Did you know?
VOICE Spring 2014
These sentiments represent just a
few of the engravings in the brick
pathway in the new Courtyard at
Equality Park.
Many local donors have gone
on-line or met with The Center’s
Development team to leave a
lasting message of importance
in these watershed times for the
LGBTQ community.
As one
member said when he bought
his “array” of bricks, “I can’t
wait to see the expression on my
husband’s face when he sees our
names etched in stone.”
Do you have a message you would
like to share or a remembrance of
someone you have lost? What better
way to ensure a permanent reminder
than to name a brick at The Pride
Center?
Won’t it be a wonderful
statement to one day have the entire
walkway filled with messages to
prompt reflection and enjoyment in
future generations?
Bricks start at:
$100 for a 4” X 8” brick
$250 for an 8” X 8” brick
Up to a $5,000 for an “Array”
To feel inspired, or to celebrate the
great progress on the Courtyard, please
visit the South side of the Schubert
Building on our Equality Park
campus. Discover what your
friends and neighbors are
sharing with the world!
A portion of each brick funds
vital services, resources and
programs of The Pride Center.
For information on purchasing
a brick, contact Bryon Bowlby
or Roger Roa at 954.463.9005.
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Have You Named Your Brick Yet?
+Over 180 people attended our last
Founders Circle reception. Founders donate
at least $100 monthly to support our vital
programs and services.
+The Pride Center provides regular
workshops for prospective and current LGBT
parents
+The Pride Center is the largest site for
Enhanced Fitness classes for Seniors offered
in the U.S.
+The Pride Center designed a powerful antiHIV-stigma campaign in conjunction with
the Department of Health that is running on
Broward County public buses
5
I
THE
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
because...
Photos by Dennis Dean
The Pride Center at Equality Park - 2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors FL - 954.463.9005
Job Seekers Enjoy a Seminar - or Three
By Rob Saunders
VOICE Winter 2014
F
rustrated trying to land a decent job as a
seasoned employee? Hey, we’ve been there
and it’s a bitch - but help is at hand right here at
The Pride Center. Our SAGEWorks program recently
organized three seminars designed to give LGBT
forty-somethings (and up) that extra edge and get them
noticed in the digital-age job market.
Well, do you know what employers look for in your
resume, or how to behave on a C2C interview? If the
answers are “no” and “what the heck is C2C,” maybe
you should check out the videos from these really
informative and helpful sessions.
One thing a mature job applicant should be aware of is
the risk of dating yourself in your resume in a way that
is not helpful, said Chris Caputo of MetroMediaWorks.
“It’s important to show depth of experience, but
showing what you did straight out of college is probably
counterproductive. It’s kind of a red flag that you may
not be current in your skills.”
In particular, he said, he looks for how someone has
put contemporary skills to use. “Pretty much everybody
puts right at the top of their resume a list of all their
computer software skills -- but unless they say in the
body of the application where and how they’ve used
those skills, I take it with a grain of salt.”
Chris is as savvy and plugged-in a young entrepreneur
as you could wish to meet, and presented the first
seminar about making maximum use of an essential
tool for job seekers: “LinkedIn – Everything You’ve
Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask.”
OK, so you might have heard of LinkedIn, or even
got emailed invitations from someone you know to
join - but do you know what it’s all about? “In this
job market, most job applicants know what LinkedIn
is, but if anything many of them are using it in a way
that is counterproductive,” Chris said. “Not having it
up to date or not having enough information or having box operations. With an acute awareness of our faltering
empty profiles -- that’s a red flag for me that they are not economy, Mary offers hope and encouragement to those
current on technology or they’re not tech savvy.”
who have lost jobs due to position elimination, company
His seminar focused on what an employer would look bankruptcy or corporate merger. She explained what
at, what needs to be filled in and what can be left out. should and what should not be included in creating an
He also explained some networking opportunities on outstanding resume that will enhance your chances of
LinkedIn. However, he added, “It’s not so much that beating the competition and successfully landing that
you’re going to go on there and find a job, it’s that your long-sought-after dream job.
potential employer will be looking at your profile on
To learn more about The Pride Center’s SAGEWorks
there, kind of fact checking.”
program, or to find out about accessing video of the
The next seminar provided valuable insight into what seminars, please contact Bruce Williams, Senior
happens on the other side of the table: that is, what Services Coordinator at bwilliams@pridecenterflorida.
considerations go into selecting the ideal candidate for org or 954.463.9005
an open position. Carl McDonald presented
on “How Hiring Happens in 2014 - Tips From
Inside the Human Resource Department”.
He certainly should know. Carl is the
Regional Director of Human Resources for
Broward Health Imperial Point (BHIP). He
started with Broward Health in 2004 and
has been actively involved in a number of
different Human Resources roles throughout
Broward Health.
Carl says he enjoys providing knowledge
and direction to the students he teaches as
an adjunct faculty member at American
Intercontinental University in Weston, FL
and loves to mentor professionals within the
industry. He possesses a lot of “knowledge
and direction” that he passed on during his
talk.
The third seminar got down to the nittygritty. “Resume Writing - What’s In &
What’s Out For Job Seekers” was presented
by Mary Langer of TD Bank. Mary has had
over 30 years of Human Resource experience
involving national retail openings of large big Senior Services Coordinator Bruce Williams with seminar presenter Chris Caputo
Blue is the Warmest
Color Screening and
Discussion
A passionate crowd
viewed and discussed
this sexy, controversial
movie, nominated as
Best Foreign Language
film for the 2014 Oscars.
The divisive Frenchlanguage film tells the
story of two young
women and the course
of their passionate,
tumultuous relationship.
8
Photos by Ed Garcia
This dark, soap-opera
style comedy includes
a transgender ensemble
portraying non-trans
roles. Several case
members discussed their
involvement in the film
following the screening.
just book an
ocean view room
or higher, and
choose from
these 3 offers!
Receive $100
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Free Classic
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Free Gratuities
for two, per stateroom
Receive pre-paid gratuities, value of up to $30 per day
4 Day Cruise Itinerary Includes a full day at Nassau
in the Bahamas (Friday) and a full day in Key West (Sunday)
$100 refundable deposit
reserves your room and perk!
VOICE Spring 2014
Offer available Now thru April 30th 2014 Only!
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Bella Maddo Screening
9
Bear Migration
BeachBear Weekend 2014 to
benefit The Pride Center
VOICE Spring 2014
R
eady for a sexy cruise that never leaves port?
BeachBear Weekend, the newest international
Bear Event, will again welcome thousands to
hit the sands of our world-class Fort Lauderdale Beach
for its third hot year, May 7-12, 2014.
The event raises funds for local non-profits while
bringing guys from around the world for a healthy, fun
time. Thousands of members of the Bear community
will enjoy the best Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors
have to offer.
For the first time, proceeds from this year’s event will
benefit The Pride Center at Equality Park.
“They are the cornerstone of our gay community,
providing so many essential services,” says Bob Young.
“BeachBear is honored to support The Pride Center.”
The host hotel, The Courtyard by Marriott at Fort
Lauderdale Beach, offers special rates for BeachBear.
Book early to get ocean view rooms!
BeachBear’s parties will continue the annual excitement.
The TeaCruise party at the host hotel overlooking the
Atlantic will feature Alex Ramos spinning your favorite
tunes. Wilton Manors’ newest venue--Hunter’s--will host
hot dance parties with DJs from Provincetown’s Bear
Week and California’s Lazy Bear.
BearTags will get you into all these events and more
for only $59.
Delta Airlines will serve as the official airline for
BeachBear. Check out www.beachbearweekend.com for
discount codes on both domestic and international flights.
“We at The Pride Center are honored and humbled that
BeachBear is donating proceeds from this epic event
toward our vital programs and resources,” says CEO
Robert Boo. “We’re thankful for the ongoing support
and collaboration of the Bear community. This is going
to be an amazing weekend. Like Goldilocks I’m full of
excitement to be surrounded by so many Bears.”
BeachBear is also proud to support a charity that
serves another urgent, often overlooked need in our
community. BeachBear will also donate funds to
Abandoned Pet Rescue, a no-kill shelter.
Did you know?
+Over 1000 visitors and 80 vendors attend
The Pride Center’s Flea Market on the first
Saturday of every month
+The Pride Center hosts monthly
Transgender Educational Series collaborative
community workshops
+Over 100 people play Bingo at The Pride
Center on the second Saturday evening of
every month.
+The Pride Center’s Healthcare Navigator
links people daily to vital medical care
+More than 10,000 people used The Pride
Center’s computer center last year
10
Wells Fargo Mural Unveiling
The Pride Center is honored to be
included on the mural alongside
Harvey Milk at the Five-Points
location of Wells Fargo in Wilton
Manors. Wells Fargo generously
donated $10,000 to The Center.
Gilda’s Club hosted and Broward
Health-Imperial Point and Edward
Jones-Darcy Beeman, CFP
sponsored a recent Founders
Reception. Founders provide at
least $1200 annual to support
the programs and services of The
Pride Center.
Photos by Stephen Lang
VOICE Spring 2014
Vision 2015 Contributors
Gil Corwin
George A. Kling, MD
Estate of James Rampe
Attorney Arthur B. Smith
Jim Stepp and Peter Zimmer
Sunshine Athletic Association
Doug Tinklepaugh and James
Rickard
Estate of Lawrence Zinman
Pillar Society - $100,000
Equality League - $10,000
John Graves Society $500,000
John C. Graves Charitable Fund of the
Community Foundation of Broward
Cornerstone Society $250,000
Anonymous
Jan Carpenter and Dale Russell
Mona Pittenger
Luminary Society $50,000
J. Michael Heider, DDS and Thom Carr
Kenneth M. Goss
Former Broward County Mayor Ken
Keechl and Ted Adcock
John Ramos and Tim Caldwell
Richard Schwarz and Tom Massey
Star League - $25,000
Doug Candler
Forest Trace Luxury Resort and Adult
Community
James Jagielski
D.C. Allen and Ken Flick
Estate of C. Michael Johnson
Hansen Realty
Vince Di Pietro
Paul Galluccio
Mark Gordon and Aldo Buono
Ed Nicholas and Chris Griswold
Chuck Nicholls and Mark Turner
Coleman Prewitt
The Bears of South Florida
Visonary Circle - $5,000
Anonymous
In Memory of Gilbert Anko
Darcy Beeman
Ilene Berliner and Maura Lane
John Bowles
Mark Budwig and Nick Scalzo
Michael Dager and Harvey Shapiro
Michael Dane and Alex Quintero
Chris Dunham and Joseph Dominguez
Gregory P. Gaddis and David R. Stack, III
Gay Bridge
In Memory of Rick Gibson
Cal Harrison
Tyler Healis
Kenneth Hollander Charitable Foundation
Robert L. Hubbard and Bill Greeves
Friends of Stephen Jerome
Dr. David Kyner and Richard Bray
Christopher Mahon, MD
W. Lynn McLaughlin and David Webb
Ken Merrifield and Fred Berger
David Moon and Eugene Smith
Douglas Pew and Donald Croxton
Michael Preihs and Khoi Loung
Bennett Quade and Paul Rolli
Herb Reis and William Coffey
SAGE Men’s Drop In
Don Schultz
Stork’s Bakery
Dave Stubbins
Dean Trantalis, Esq.
Ted Verdone and John Curtin
Charles Walker
Sumner T. White
Vision 2015 charts the course for The Pride Center to be mortgage-free on our 5.5 acre Equality Park campus. We seek
1,000 donors who will contribute $1,000 annually. To join Vision 2015, contact Roger Roa at [email protected]
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Founders Circle Reception at
Gilda’s Club
C E L E B R AT I N G
20 YEARS!
11
Founders Circle Reception at
Embassy Suites
Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale
hosted and sponsored a recent
Founders Reception. Founders
provide at least $100 monthly
to support the programs and
services of The Pride Center.
VOICE Spring 2014
Photos by Stephen Lang and Steve Shires
Women’s History Month Art Reception
Our Women with Pride program again held
a popular art reception for Women’s History
Month. This year’s exhibit was entitled
Movement: An Artist Interpretation of Women
on the Move. Angie Sowers of Closet Talk
spearheaded the event in collaboration with
Pride Center galleries curator Emilio Aponte
and Women with Pride Coordinator Roya
Amirniroumand.
Photos by Ed Garcia
12
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Florida AIDS Walk
The Pride Center was honored to
participate again in the Florida
AIDS Walk along beautiful Fort
Lauderdale Beach. Organized by
AHF, the AIDS Walk allows The
Pride Center to receive the funds
specifically raised by our team for
use in our vital HIV services.
Photos by Liquid Radar and
Kristofer Fegenbush
This year’s honoree at
Lambda Legal’s annual
event was Pride Center
CEO Robert Boo.
Guests enjoyed the
tropical atmosphere of
the Bonnet House on
Fort Lauderdale Beach.
VOICE Spring 2014
Lambda Legal
Honors Robert Boo
13
Evening in Paradise: Carnaval!
The Pride Center collaborated with
the City of Wilton Manors to present
Evening in Paradise – Carnaval! Evening
in Paradise, now in its third year, has
grown to represent the signature Spring
fundraising and entertainment event
for The Center and the community.
The event raised over $50,000 for the
programs and services of The Center.
Returning as co-chairs were Jim Walker
(Center Board Vice President), Lee Rubin,
Joe Guerrero and Irwin Drucker. Bobby
Kyser of Panache Style designed the
over-the-top affair.
VOICE Spring 2014
Photos by Steve Shires and Stephen Lang
14
The Pride Center once again
sponsored and hosted Black Gay
Pride in honor of Black History
Month. Activities included an
Opening Art Reception and an
Old School Family Reunion Block
Party. Bishop S.F. MakalaniMahee and the Board of Black
Gay Pride South Florida organized
a fabulous weekend of events.
Photos by Ed Garcia
The Equality Park Garden Club
and The Pride Center partnered
to produce the second annual
Tropical Plant Fair. This year’s
Fair expanded to two days plus
a VIP reception and included
some of the most prestigious
nurseries in the area. Richard
Perez spearheaded the event in
collaboration with Chuck Nicholls.
VOICE Spring 2014
Tropical Plant Fair
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Black Gay Pride Art Reception
Photos by Pompano Bill
15
United Faces of Pride
Diversity of Center groups,
programs and events expands
By Cheryl Bennett
VOICE Spring 2014
U
nited Colors of Benetton” Do you
remember that ad? Well, if you happened
to be a zygote in the 80’s, then perhaps not,
but trust me… it was good. What’s the point you
ask? I have used this reference no less than a dozen
times in my life to point out the diversity in my group
of friends or my community. As I’ve learned about
the diversity of the programs offered by The Pride
Center, this automatically came to mind.
I came to The Pride Center in a round-about sort
of way. I was new to the area and knowing no one,
decided to become part of The Pride Pack, The
Center’s bike team for The SMART Ride. Best
decision of my life. It has led me to things that
were beyond my imagination and a team of friends
that very much resembles that Benetton ad. We
are about as diverse a team as one could possibly
imagine. Women, men, gay, straight, black, white
and every shade in between, we are a direct reflection
of the Pride Center: united in our diversity, working
toward a common goal. The Center’s ongoing work
isn’t much different: to bring services, resources,
programs and events to our diverse communities
in South Florida. The Center served over 30,000
people last year to be exact.
I will freely admit that I didn’t realize all that The
Pride Center has to offer until I sat down and starting
looking at the vast number of programs and groups
that are offered there every month. There are over
60 groups that meet at The Center regularly! Yes,
SIXTY! Impressed?! Yeah, I was too… Where
would these groups meet without The Center?
As I’ve explored all The Center organizes, there is
literally something for everyone. Did you know that they
host art exhibits? They provide workshops for LGBT
parents. Almost 200 Seniors gather every Tuesday for
Coffee and Conversation. Women play basketball
weekly. They offer an ongoing spirituality series. They
organize movie nights. The Center provides workshops
on immigration, dating, holistic health, gender identity
and Happy Hineys. Did you know that they sponsor
Black Gay Pride? Or, my personal favorite: Breast
Fest? There is invaluable information passed along at
this particular event and many more like it.
Have you been trying to quit smoking? Did you know
that they offer a FREE, as in NO COST TO YOU,
program to help you do just that?
Men, women, seniors, youth, gay, lesbian, transgender,
health, art, spirituality… You name it, they’ve got it.
Do you like a good bargain? (I mean, who doesn’t?!)
Check out the monthly Flea Market!
Do you need help with Financial Planning? They’ve
got you covered…
In recovery? There are so many meetings daily.
The Pride Center has grown exponentially in recent
years and has added some amazing events and groups.
If you haven’t been here recently, chances are you’re
missing something great!
Come check out a yoga class! Maybe I’ll see you there.
SMART Ride 10 Check Distribution
16
The Pride Center received $149,548 from SMART Ride 10. The
Center utilized these funds in HIV care linkage, prevention,
outreach, testing, support and education. Our Healthcare
Navigation, Couples Speak, and Community Wellness Workshop
programs would not exist without The SMART Ride. In total, SR10
distributed $1,070,101.41 to HIV agencies across Florida.
The Riverside Hotel hosted
and sponsored a recent
Founders Reception on historic
Las Olas. Funds donated by
Founders Circle underwrite
life-enhancing programs and
services to the community.
LBT Health Directory
Service Linkage
Support Groups
Movie Nights
Panel Discussions
Social Events
VOICE Spring 2014
We Offer:
Holistic Health Series
Family Series
Book Club
Art Shows
Diverse Speakers
Basketball
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Founders Circle Reception
at Riverside Hotel
17
I
THE
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
because...
Photos by Dennis Dean
The Pride Center at Equality Park - 2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors FL - 954.463.9005
Zen Garden
Cabellero provides comforting
service to people needing HIV care
By Rafael Reyes
VOICE Spring 2014
W
alk into Oscar Caballero’s office at The
Pride Center and you might think you’re in
the wrong place. You’re greeted by warm
light emitting from sculpted lamps, dark stained tree
barks, serene paintings he created, a lovely set of iron
chair sculptures and a Buddha head as the finishing
touch. I feel I have stepped into a little Zen palace
room, comforted and welcomed, and I don’t want to
leave. The attention to detail gives me the sense that
he’s very organized and detail oriented.
It’s been three months since Oscar began his job at
The Center as ARTAS and Testing Specialist. He links
to care newly diagnosed HIV+ individuals, folks that
have fallen out of care, and people that have relocated
to Broward county needing assistance. He ensures
that they’re connected to medical care and Ryan White
service providers.
He also travels around the County providing HIV testing
and outreach. Working with others in the outreach and
testing team, Oscar strives to identify new HIV testing
sites, reaching people in their own back yards. He’s
passionate about targeting high risk groups in the Latino,
Caribbean and African American communities.
Oscar has long been professionally involved with the
HIV community. Since 2003 he’s played a vital role
in Latinos in Accion, a multi-agency HIV prevention
committee that meets once a month at The Pride Center.
“It’s a great group,” says Oscar. “We talk about
what’s going on in the Latino community, and together
we assess and help plan prevention programs.”
He worked as a volunteer for what was then the
GLCC in 2004, and as a Testing Counselor and Project
Specialist with Care Resource, supervising the HIV
prevention programs for both Dade and Broward. Most
recently, he was Lead Care Coordinator at MDE, Inc.,
in charge of their Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access
to Services program, better known as ARTAS.
“My work at The Pride Center is similar to what I did
before,” says Oscar. “I’m linking people to Ryan
White and medical care. Now there may be more
people with private insurance coverage, but my job is
still to make sure that people get connected to services
and that they are in care.”
“The LGBTQ community at large looks to The Pride
Center more and more for answers to questions they
may have about health and insurance, and other issues
of concern like housing, legal and immigration,” says
Oscar. “I work hand-in-hand with our Healthcare
Navigator to make sure we are helping to address all of
the clients’ needs.”
Oscar continues to learn.
“Being neutral is most important when it comes to
clients,” Oscar adds. “Each case has to be treated as
Did you know?
+Our Women with Pride program hosts a
monthly book club
+Our CouplesSpeak program builds relationship
skills, improves communication, lowers risks,
and enhances sex
+The Pride Center spearheaded a local initiative
to create a tri-county LBT Women’s Health
Directory with over 300 culturally-competent
healthcare providers
+The Pride Center provided more than 1,500
tests in the first quarter of 2014
+The Pride Center distributes more than 200,000
condoms annually. That’s a lot of safer sex!
20
Living
with
HIV?
Living
with
HIV?
Are dating, sex, relationships
or disclosure stressful?
JOIN a free program to help
you make smart CHOICES.
ChoiCes is a five-week program that teaches
you skills to handle challenges you may face.
We meet in small groups to discuss how to:
• Build healthier relationships and lower stress
• Make better decisions and improve health
• Disclose HIV-status wisely
Fun, interactive sessions include:
• Video clips for discussion
• Thought-provoking activities
• Small group discussion and role play
ChoiCes can help you...
• Meet new HIV+ friends
• Share different experiences without judgment
• Improve problem-solving & communication skills
• Learn more health supporting behaviors
PALS
project
+We hosted more than 2,500 group meetings at
The Pride Center last year
separate from that last, even if I may see similarities. It
helps to have some level of empathy.”’
As I leave Oscar’s abode and face the harsh,
yellow greenness of the fluorescent hallway lighting
(Aaarrrghh!) I know that someone so picky about
décor takes obvious personal pride and joy in what he
does. I leave feeling, like most people, that I was in the
company of a good man, who made me feel at home,
and who has my best interest in mind.
The PALS Project offers gay, bisexual and other
men who have sex with men living with HIV
social support, accurate HIV information and
skills to lead safer, richer lives.
ChoiCes is FRee. Se Habla Espanol.
If interested, contact Magno Morales
at 954.463.9011 ext. 303 or
email [email protected]
Sponsored by The Pride Center
and the State of Florida,
Department of Health
LIFETIME
Bob and Hal Bernier-Peterson
Gil Corwin
John C. Graves Charitable Fund
Alan Schubert
PLATINUM
Anonymous (2)
AHF Pharmacy
Aqua Foundation for Women
Bobby Blair / Florida Agenda
Peter Clark / Hotspots Magazine
Community Foundation of Broward
Ed Garcia / Liquid Radar
Estate of Bob Kesckemety
Kenneth Goss
Kenneth Hollander and John Kardos
Scott Kean / LSeven Solutions
Norm Kent / South Florida Gay News
The Howard Greenfield Charitable Foundation
Glen Weinzimer and John Rogatzki / The SMART Ride
Premier Business
Tomas Soto, Ph.D., MPH and Frank Lefevre, M.D.
Dr. Leslie Leip (Board Member) and Fritz Leip
John Leyden and Tom Valentine
Bill Linehan
Charles Loring
Juliette Love (Board Member)
Norton Lyman and Kimio Sato
Joe Markonic / Gables Wilton Park
Cheryl Mauro / Hibiscus Café
Michael McArdle and Thomas Holland
David O. McConnell
Joe McConnell and Michael Lennon
Kent McIntyre and John Tambasco
Ian McKay
Dick McManus and Tom Nohilly
Ken Merrifield and Fred Berger
Drew Miller and Kevin Murdoch
Anthony Molluso and Bill Volbrecht
Rodney Monroe / South Beach Afters
David Moon and Eugene Smith
Gregory Moore and Dr. Allan Barsky
Anthony More
New York Life Insurance Company
Richard Nolan and Robert Pingpank
Neptune Society
Northern Trust Bank
Charles Ohsiek
Ernest Olivas / Emerald Home Health
Cecilia Perez-Matos, Esq. / The Berman Law Group
Jim Pierce /Pierce Aire, Inc.
Peter Pileski and Bob Avian
Mona Pittenger
Stephen Schram and Richard Powers /PowersSchram, LLC
Karen Prescod and Tulip Prescod /Florida Blue / SunSure
Insurance
Bruce Presley and Chris Hedlund
Yamilet Ramirez and Claudia Mosley /Merchant Processing
Solutions
Sharon Rebuck / Another Perfect Party
Dr. Will Richardson / Natura Dermatology & Cosmetics
Douglas Tinklepaugh and James Rickard / Pinnacle Constructors, LLC
Stanley Rosenthal / Forest Trace Luxury Resort Adult Community
Tom Runyan, Esq / Runyan Law Firm, PA
Pastor Leslie Rutland-Tipton (Board Member) / Church of the
Holy Spirit Song
Rick Salomon
John Sapp
Geph Scarr and Sergio Medina Quintina / Scarr Insurance
Group
Jack Schlossberg and Greg Fineman
Tony Seguino and Dan Ayers
Danny Selvin
James Senior
Sharp Marketing
Steve Shires / Steve Shires Photography
Tim Singer and Richard Cascarelli / Tim Singer & Assoc.
Kimberly Sorondo
Will Spencer / Camp4Health
David Starkey and Arianto Sumargo
Jeffrey Sterling/ Sterling Tax
Richard Stoll, Esq.
Terry Stone and Mike Bush
Dave Stubbins
Edward Temoyan
The Bears of South Florida, Inc.
The Recovery Place
The Restaurant People
Bill Thornton and Adam Kratochwill / Pride Carpet Cleaning
Tony Timiraos and Arthur Crispino
Tower Club
Bruno Trambusti and Randy Grant
Dean Trantalis Esq.
David Treece / Treece Financial Group
Carl E. Trough
Mark Turner and Chuck Nicholls
Ted Verdone and John Curtin
Vincent Vigliotti
W Hotel – Fort Lauderdale
Fred Wahl and Fred Marzec
Bruce Walther
Steve Wetzler
Sumner T. White
Norris Wildhagen and Dr. Troy Robinson
C. Theodore Wolf and Frank Decolator
Tom Wolf and Fernando Rodrigues
John Zieba and Cliff Mulcahy/ Rosie’s Bar & Grill
Join the Pride Center Founders Circle! Support the
programs and services of The Pride Center. Founders
Circle memberships begin at $100 per month. For more
information, please contact Roger Roa, Director of
Development, [email protected]
VOICE Spring 2014
Bobby Kyser / Panache Style
Wells Fargo Foundation
DIAMOND
DC Allen and Ken Flick/No Gay Hate Fund at OurFund, Inc
Ilene Berliner (Board Chairperson) and Maura Lane
Jared Falek and Don Chorpenning
Oliver Kamm
David McLaren and Joseph Laurino / Periodic Products
Dr. Dale Russell
Richard Safaty (Board Member) and Omer Mizrachi /
Freedom Travel
Wayne Schrebe
Ted Schultz
Arthur B. Smith
Jim Stepp and Peter Zimmer
GOLD
Atlantic Surf Club
Bayview Cadillac
Don Biehn / Biehn & Associates, Inc.
Broward Health Foundation – Imperial Point
Mark Budwig (Board Member) and Nick Scalzo / S. Mark
Graphics
Michael Camardello
Chris Caputo (Board Member) / MetroMediaWorks
City County Credit Union
Coffee and Conversation
Dr. Howard R. Cunningham / Oakland Park Dental
Michael Dager and Harvey Shapiro
Chris Dunham and Joseph Dominguez / Dunham Insurance
Services
Andrew Fischman
Victor Flores / FastPrintz
Robert Hubbard and Bill Greeves
Joe Pallant / Pallant Insurance Agency, Inc.
Douglas Pew and Donald Croxton
Ronnie Pryor and Dustin Cranor / Source Salon
Herb Reis and Dr William Coffey
Paul Rolli and W. Bennett Quade
Riverside Hotel
Lee Rubin and Jim Walker (Board Member)
Russell Sassani, MD & Michael Schneider /Take Shape
Plastic Surgery
Heidi Schaeffer
JJ. Schmidt Richard Schwarz and Tom Massey
Paul M. Smith and Gerald Kennedy
George Zuber and Anthony Snyder
SILVER
Anonymous (2)
A Celebration of Friends
Adam’s Interiors
Paul Alpert Chris Ambs and Scott Clearwater Neel Amin and Tom Macek / American Pain Experts
B Ocean Fort Lauderdale
Alfred Bacchi and Craig Ross
Don Barlow
Steve Barnard
Andrew Bartfield
Christopher Bates
David Bebbington Darcy Beeman /Edward Jones Investments
Tom and Steven Begert-Clark / Even As We Speak
Scott Belding and Listron Mannix / ReMax Consultants Realty
Dr. Louis Benevento and Patrick Duffy
Scott L. Bennett
Norman Berkowitz
Mitch Bloom (Board Member) and Paul Wardell
Gary Bitner / Bitner Goodman
Boardwalk
Robin L. Bodiford, Esq. / Law Office of Robin L. Bodiford
John Bolton
Robert Boo
Al Bove, DMD
Bryon Bowlby and Robert Baldwin
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Patricia Burdett / United Capital Financial Advisers
Rishi Burke
Gerald Byers and Rudy Wengenroth
Jae Camino / Jae’s Sinful Delights
Karen Caroll and Julie Slater / Chic Optique
George Castrataro, Esq. / The Law Offices of George
Castrataro, PA
Jeff Cato and Bob Tentscher / Cato Insurance Group, Inc.
Sam Chalfant and Tom Rouland / Affordable Health Insurance
Nicholas Chaparos
Harvey Chasser
Brian R. Claeys / The Law Offices of Brian R. Claeys
Howard Cohen and Daniel Wasinger / Concept International
Design
Bob Collier and Chuck Hunziker
Lynn Corning /Newman Insurance
Cox Media Group
Tracey Cramer /Ameriprise Financial
Joseph Daniel and Fred Silverman
Esmeralda and Peter Dekaj / Stork’s Bakery
Robert Delehanty
Diplomat Pharmacy
Thomas Dowd and Cesar Rivera / Water Mill Flowers and
Fruit Bouquets
Hon. Stephen Driscoll and Robert Tocci / National Stonewall
Democrats
Dolphin Democratic Club
Irwin Drucker Eden Funeral Services
Robert Eldredge / RWE Real Estate
Embassy Suites Hotel
H & R Block
Holland & Knight, LLP
Howard Elfman and Juliever Villan
Ted Emery
Craig Engel (Board Member) and Greg Briche
Michael Faerber / D’Angelo Realty Group
Brian Farley and Ron Alose
Paul Fasana
First Congregational Church
GalleryONE Fort Lauderdale
Joel Geils
Eric Gilbert / SunTrust Bank
Glenn L. Goldberg
Steven Goldgram
Mark Gordon and Aldo Buono
Martin Gould/ Focalize Consulting
Scott Gray
Stephen Gray / Better Homes & Gardens
Donald Green and Gene Ingledue
Marc Grossman
Robert Grossman
Joe Guerrero
Robert Gunning
Mark Haines / Mark’s List
Mark Halacy and Thomas Pollock
Peter Hardy-Smith and Steven Devito
Cal Harrison
Timothy S. Hart / R3 Accounting LLC
Brenda Hartley (Board Member) / BankUnited
Tyler Healis
Dr. J. Heider and Thomas Carr / Ultimate Smile
Scott Herman and Cale Choi
Lazaro Hernandez and Steve Figlmiller
Eldon Ross Hills / Caldwell Banker
Neill Hirst, MD and Greg Hughes
Michael Hisey
Hans Hochkamp and Joseph DeBacco
Paul Holoweski
Kenley Hoover and Tom Pflepsen
Mick Howard and Brian Jackson / Mayors Jewelers
iBeria Bank
Adam Irvin / The Grateful Palate
A.J. Jabre
James Jagielski
Paul Jennings
Bret Johnson
George Johnson
James A. Johnson
Dr. Charmaine Johnson-Leong, DDS, PA
Clifford W. Jolley and Paul Clive
John Jovanovich and Paul Holoweski
Robert Judd and Russell Neal
Greg Kabel / Law Offices of Gregory W. Kabel, Esq.
Ken Kalenderian
Ken Keechl and Ted Adcock (Board Member)
Gary Kempler / Futurity First Insurance Group - South Florida
Mark Ketcham and Werner Lutz
Don Kocher and Jonathan Salt
Maria Kondracki Dwyer and Jim Dwyer
Edwin Kowalski and Michael Donnan
Joe Kraus
Ellen Krider, CFP / RBC Wealth Management
Robert Kuhn and Steven Geyer
Dr. David Kyner and Richard Bray
Thomas LaFramboise / LaFramboise & Bergeron, PL
Julia Landis and Shawn Fanshier
Bruce Lane
Bernie Langeluttig and Dennis Fitzkee
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
The Pride Center Founders Circle
Book Reading and Signing
Lesbian author Carol Lynne
Smith Madison read from
her published works and
signed books as part of our
ongoing Women with Pride
Empowerment Series.
21
I
THE
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
because...
Photos by Dennis Dean
The Pride Center at Equality Park - 2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors FL - 954.463.9005
Meet and Greet with MMA
Champ Jessica Aguilar
WSOF Champ Jessica Aguilar
spoke on her involvement and
her advocacy for the LBT Health
Directory LTHealth.org The Pride
Center spearheaded the creation
of the directory in collaboration
with Aqua Foundation for
Women, Women in Network,
SunServe and BLAST.
VOICE Spring 2014
Photos by Ed Garcia
24
Stoned: The Highs and Lows of Weed
and the LGBT Community
Part of our Vital Signs series, a diverse
panel explored the social, mental and
physical impacts of cannabis use within
our community. Photos by Ed Garcia
Photos by Ed Garcia
A free program for men in
relationships or for those
who want to be.
It doesn’t matter if you’re HIV negative
or living with HIV. This program is a great
way for you to build relationship skills,
share with new friends and have fun.
If you’re a gay or bisexual man living with
HIV, you can learn to keep your immune
system in strong, peak condition.
New four week session starts every month.
space is limited so sign up now.
“Couples Speak”
Join the FREE 18 week LIFE Program
For Four Weeks you’ll meet in small groups
with other couples to:
You’ll receive practical, step-by-step guidance in a fun interactive environment as
you create and implement personal health plans for long-term thriving with HIV.
 Improve healthy communication
 Manage conflict and differences
 Engage in fun learning activities
 Discuss sex openly and honestly
 Make your love life more exciting & safer
 Learn to love better
 Reduce your risks
 Enhance your health and...
 Have fun!
This program can help you...
• Build deeper, supportive relationships with new HIV+ friends!
• Get the latest facts on HIV!
• Improve your physical, emotional and social well being!
• Share your story while you learn from others!
Participation in the LIFE Program...
• Boosts the immune system
• Lowers risky behavior
• Increases adherence to health and medication schedules.
Offered twice a year beginning in January and July.
MEETINGS ON TUESDAYS @ 6:30 p.m.
For more inFormation
PALS
PROJECT
Contact Jeff Grigsby at 954.463.9011, ext. 302
or email [email protected]
PALS
project
For more information contact
The Pride Center's PALs Project...
Lorenzo Robertson
email [email protected]
or call 954.463.9011 ext. 306
VOICE Spring 2014
Want A Jump-Start
To Healthier Living?
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Coffee and Conversation
Weekly attendance at our Tuesday morning Coffee and
Conversation events for Seniors has grown to nearly
200. Our Senior Advisory Council and Senior Services
Coordinator continue to plan and provide engaging, creative
activities, services, resources and programs for Seniors.
Sponsored by The Pride Center, and the State of
Florida, Department of Health
25
3.5” x 2”
Directory
These businesses represent some of our valuable supporters.
To become a Business Founder, please contact Roger Roa:
[email protected] 954.463.9005
Darcy J Beeman, CFP®, AAMS®
Financial Advisor
.
717 S E 2nd Street Ste 204
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-463-1933
www.edwardjones.com
• Auto
• Home
• Business
• Life & Retirement
(954) 752-5353
www.CatoInsuranceGroup.com
blending clinical excellence
with a personal touch–
VOICE Spring 2014
for happier lives
and health that lasts
www.diplomatpharmacy.com
AffordAble Home
HeAltH CAre
Home · Auto · Marine
Commercial · Umbrella
954.564.7772
dunhamins.com
Protecting the Lifestyle to Which you are Accustomed
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6/25/2012 2:00:17 PM
LGBT Home Care for LGBT SeniorS
CALL
954-629-1377
www.EmeraldEliteHomeHealth.com
CONSIDERING
CREMATION?
Contact Denisse for details on our next
group presentation in Wilton Manors.
DENISSE | 954-319-7657
26
MASSAGE • REIKI SERVICES
We are proud to welcome
Dr. Réquel Lopes!
She offers additional
acupuncture
services like facial
rejuvenation, esoteric
acupucnture and
much more.
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
ACUPUNCTURE • CHIROPRACTIC
A not for profit healing arts center
committed to providing equal
access to high quality holistic care.
Make your appointment today!
954.530.4832
2038 N. Dixie Hwy.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
www.camp4health.org
smile about
Flower & Fruit
Bouquets
954.772.0200
Most experienced dental care
provider in our community
VOICE Spring 2014
Now you REALLY have something to
954.566.5428
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SEO & Social
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(954) 707-6915
MetroMediaWorks.com
27
Spotlight:
Getting to Know Your Pride
Center Staff
by Listron “Blue” Mannix
Richard “Rick” Thomas
Occupation: VOICES
and Outreach Specialist
Born: September 28th in
Jamaica, Queens NY
VOICE Spring 2014
Hobbies:
Playing basketball,
baseball, racquetball, bike
riding, working out and
meditation
Richard “Rick” Thomas is a down
to earth, “old school brotha” who hails
from the streets of Brooklyn, NY and has
lived in Sunny Isles Beach for the past
4 years. Richard is the sixth of seven
siblings with strong family ties. Rick and
his family one-by-one moved from the
cold winters of New York and set roots
in the warmer winters of Florida over the
past 10 years.
Rick recently joined The Pride Center staff
as part of a new high impact HIV prevention
grant from the Department of Health.
Rick works in HIV testing, outreach and
coordinates the VOICES intervention (Video
Opportunities for Innovative Condom
Education and Safer Sex.)
Rick boasts about being a product of the
80’s and recalls many of the great influences
in his life--music, TV shows, his first lover.
But the one event that Rick feels has shaped
his life most was witnessing the onslaught
of HIV/AIDS and the lack of attention and
education on such an impactful virus. Rick
empathized with those affected by HIV:
“I watched many of the people in my life
deal with the shame, denial and stigma that
is still associated with this disease, even to
this day”.
Before becoming a part of The Pride
Center family, Rick worked with South
Beach AIDS Project as an HIV counselor
and a facilitator of the 3MV (Many Men,
Many Voice) Intervention. Rick continues
to express his desire and drive to work
in the field of HIV, “My aspirations
are to see a cure for HIV/AIDS in my
lifetime, continue to offer quality concern,
commitment and dedication to our cause,
and go where ever we as sexual health
counselors are needed.”
Rick continues to expresses his passion
for prevention work. “One of the best things
about doing the VOICES intervention
is educating and interacting with people
on condom usage, condom negotiation
and
utilizing
innovative
techniques
to demonstrate effective condom use,
especially with the youth,” he says flashing
his pearly whites.
“I consider it an honor and a privilege
to be working for The Pride Center at
Equality Park. It gives me the opportunity
to stay connected to the field of HIV, give
back with my knowledge, experience and
compassion, and educate those who seek
information about HIV. It also allows me
to network with the LGBT community and
advance our causes.”
The team at The Pride Center will
continue to utilize Rick’s knowledge and
experience to reach a diverse community
with HIV prevention, education, information,
resources and service linkage.
Join The Pride Center as a Member Today!
Types of Membership:
•Individual $40 per year
•Household $70 per year
•Student (under 25)$30 per year
•Senior (over 65)$30 per year
•Friends $200 per year
•Best Friends
$500 per year
•Founders Circle starting at $1,200
28
per year*
*Additional Founder Levels are available.
Contact 954.463.9005